Active antenna array and method for relaying first and second protocol radio signals in a mobile communications network
First Claim
1. An active antenna array for a mobile communications network comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements for relaying first protocol radio signals and second protocol radio signals;
at least one first splitter, coupled to an individual one of the plurality of antenna elements, adapted to forward at least one of at least one individual first protocol receive signal and at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a receive direction from an individual one of the plurality of antenna elements;
at least one amplifier, coupled downstream to the at least one first splitter, for amplifying at least one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal or the at least one individual second protocol receive signal;
at least one first coupler coupled to the at least one amplifier, in the receive direction downstream of the at least one amplifier, the at least one first coupler being coupled to at least one second splitter and being adapted to forward, on a first path, the at least one individual first protocol receive signal to the least one second splitter, the at least one first coupler being further coupled to a second protocol receiver and being adapted to forward, on a second path, the at least one individual second protocol receive signal to said second protocol receiver; and
the at least one second splitter located in the receive direction downstream of the at least one coupler and coupled to a passive feeder network or cable, adapted to forward the at least one individual first protocol receive signal in the receive direction to said passive feeder network or cable and further adapted to forward at least one individual first protocol transmit signal in a transmit direction along a transmit path.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure teaches an active antenna array for a mobile communications network. The active antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements, at least one first splitter, at least one amplifier and at least one first coupler. The first splitter forwards at least one of at least one individual first protocol receive signal and at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a receive direction from an individual one of the plurality of antenna elements. The at least one amplifier amplifies at least one of the individual first protocol receive signal and the individual second protocol receive signal. The at least one first coupler is located in the receive direction downstream of the at least one amplifier and is adapted to forward the at least one individual second protocol receive signal to a second protocol receiver.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An active antenna array for a mobile communications network comprising:
-
a plurality of antenna elements for relaying first protocol radio signals and second protocol radio signals; at least one first splitter, coupled to an individual one of the plurality of antenna elements, adapted to forward at least one of at least one individual first protocol receive signal and at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a receive direction from an individual one of the plurality of antenna elements; at least one amplifier, coupled downstream to the at least one first splitter, for amplifying at least one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal or the at least one individual second protocol receive signal; at least one first coupler coupled to the at least one amplifier, in the receive direction downstream of the at least one amplifier, the at least one first coupler being coupled to at least one second splitter and being adapted to forward, on a first path, the at least one individual first protocol receive signal to the least one second splitter, the at least one first coupler being further coupled to a second protocol receiver and being adapted to forward, on a second path, the at least one individual second protocol receive signal to said second protocol receiver; and the at least one second splitter located in the receive direction downstream of the at least one coupler and coupled to a passive feeder network or cable, adapted to forward the at least one individual first protocol receive signal in the receive direction to said passive feeder network or cable and further adapted to forward at least one individual first protocol transmit signal in a transmit direction along a transmit path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. Method for relaying first protocol radio signals and second protocol radio signals in a mobile communications network, the method comprising:
-
concurrently receiving, by an individual one of plurality of antenna elements, at least one individual first protocol receive signal and at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a plurality of receive paths; amplifying, by at least one amplifier, the at least one individual first protocol receive signal and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal; forming, by a corporate feeder network, a general first protocol receive signal from the at least one individual first protocol receive signal by analogue means, and applying, by the corporate feeder network, at least one of a phase weighting, an amplitude weighting or a delay to at least a selected one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal; forming, by a second protocol receiver, a general second protocol receive signal from the at least one individual second protocol receive signal by digitally applying at least one of a variable phase weighting, a variable amplitude weighting or a variable delay to at least a selected one of the at least one individual second protocol receive signal; and forwarding, by at least one of a first coupler and a second splitter, of at least one of the individual first protocol receive signal and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a receive direction; concurrently transmitting, by at least one of the second splitter and a second coupler, the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal and the at least one individual second protocol transmit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory medium and comprising a non-volatile computer readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to manufacture an active antenna array for a mobile communications network, the active antenna array comprising:
-
at least one first splitter, coupled to an individual one of the plurality of antenna elements, adapted to forward at least one of at least one individual first protocol receive signal and at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a receive direction from an individual one of the plurality of antenna elements; at least one amplifier, coupled downstream to the at least one first splitter, for amplifying at least one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal or the at least one individual second protocol receive signal downstream of the at least one first splitter; and at least one first coupler, coupled to the at least one amplifier, in the receive direction downstream of the at least one amplifier, the at least one first coupler being coupled to at least one second splitter and being adapted to forward, on a first path, the at least one individual first protocol receive signal to the at least one second splitter, the at least one first coupler being further coupled to a second protocol receiver and being adapted to forward, on a second path, the at least one individual second protocol receive signal to said second protocol receiver; and the at least one second splitter located in the receive direction downstream of the at least one coupler and coupled to a passive feeder network or cable, adapted to forward the at least one individual first protocol receive signal in the receive direction to said passive feeder network or cable and further adapted to forward at least one individual first protocol transmit signal in a transmit direction along a transmit path.
-
-
17. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory medium and comprising a non-volatile computer readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to execute a method for relaying first protocol radio signals and second protocol signals in a mobile communications network, the control logic comprising:
-
first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to concurrently receive at least one individual first protocol receive signal and at least one individual second protocol receive signal; and second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to amplify the at least one individual first protocol receive signal and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal; and third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to form a general first protocol receive signal from the at least one individual first protocol receive signal by analogue means and applying at least one of a phase weighting, an amplitude weighting or a delay to at least a selected one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal; and fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to form a general second protocol receive signal from the at least one individual second protocol receive signal by digital means and applying at least one of a variable phase weighting, a variable amplitude weighting or a variable delay to at least a selected one of the at least one individual second protocol receive signal; fifth computer readable program code means for forwarding, by at least one of a first coupler and a second splitter, of at least one of the individual first protocol receive signal and the at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a receive direction; and sixth computer readable program code means for concurrently transmitting, by at least one of the second splitter and a second coupler, the at least one individual first protocol transmit signal and the at least one individual second protocol transmit.
-
-
18. A chip set for controlling an active antenna element for a mobile communications network, the chipset comprising:
-
at least one first splitter adapted to forward at least one of at least one individual first protocol receive signal and at least one individual second protocol receive signal in a receive direction; at least one amplifier, for amplifying at least one of the at least one individual first protocol receive signal or the at least one individual second protocol receive signal downstream of the at least one first splitter; and at least one first coupler, coupled to the at least one amplifier, in the receive direction downstream of the at least one amplifier, the at least one first coupler being coupled to at least one second splitter and being adapted to forward, on a first path, the at least one individual first protocol receive signal to the least one second splitter, the at least one first coupler being further coupled to a second protocol receiver and adapted to provide the at least one individual second protocol receive signal to said second protocol receiver; and at least one second splitter located in the receive direction downstream of the at least one coupler and adapted to forward the at least one individual first protocol receive signal in the receive direction to a passive feeder network or cable and further adapted to forward at least one individual first protocol transmit in a transmit direction along a transmit path.
-
Specification